"Stuff I Like" Sunday: Halloween Edition!

So have you guys noticed the Halloween countdown on the lefthand sidebar of my blog? That should make it obvious: I'm all about Halloween. What other time of year is it acceptable - expected, even - to eat candy until you feel sick? In fact, I think it's gotten even better since becoming an adult. Now, since I buy the Halloween candy for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters, I can buy the stuff I like and burn through it nibble on it all month long. Not only that, but I can pilfer through my kids' candy ... you know, for safety reasons. To make sure there aren't, you know, razor blades in their taffy or something. And to take out the things that are, like, choking hazards. Or the stuff with, um, suspicious wrappers. Yeah. Safety all the way.

Every Halloween (except for this year, because I've been overrun busy with kids), it's a tradition of mine to tweak regular pictures and make them all ... Halloween-y. Like this precious photo of my sister Amy and me:

... Or this one of yours truly ...

... Or my usually-lovely mother, who I tried to witch-ify in this pic (but who ended up reminding me a little bit of Meryl Streep instead) ...

... Or Colin and I from a couple years ago (I was pregnant with Cameron in this picture).

Another Halloween tradition of mine? Reading this book cover-to-cover:


I love, love, love this book. It tells about the history of Halloween, and is full of recipes and ideas and fun things to do.

Another thing I love: Halloween parties. I mean adult Halloween parties. They're like a "you're-too-old-to-go-Trick-or-Treating-but-here's-something-fun-for-you" consolation prize. Like the parties you attended as a kid, but with alcohol (whee!). And since Halloween isn't complete without goodies, here are a few for you: some spooky themed cocktails (you'll find some more good ones here) and a thing I wrote a couple of years ago called Throw a Spook-tacular Adult Halloween Party.

I know it's a little early, but I thought I'd share all this stuff with you now in case you're planning a party (and if you are, it's still early enough to send me an invitation!). And what better time to share than on "Stuff I Like" Sunday?

Have a freaky week - and a happy Halloween!